Lots of comments that I expected.
I'm no fan of a German company sponsoring our US National Team.
Here is an excerpt from the press release:
“We are extremely excited to work together with Volkswagen to help us continue to grow soccer in the United States,” said Flynn. “Volkswagen will be one of the most active and visible partners U.S. Soccer has ever had, providing us with additional resources for more programs that can impact and help develop the sport, while also allowing us to reach more fans of the game across the country. We look forward to the next four years together as we drive towards our mission of becoming the preeminent sport in the United States.”
As part of the historic partnership, Volkswagen will have branding on training tops for all U.S. Soccer National Teams, including the Men’s and Women’s National Teams, all Youth National Teams and the Para 7-a-side, Beach and Futsal National Teams, and the U.S. Soccer Development Academy. "
I highlighted the areas that I am curious about.
1. How much did VW pay? Who else was submitted competing bids? Does anyone at the exec level of US Soccer and/or SUM have any position at VM?
2. How will that money be allocated?
3. What "additional resources for more programs"? What resources? What programs?
4. You are gonna have the DA Youth teams wearing a logo? I certainly hope that one of the "resources for programs" is that all DA players are able to play for free.
How long has Volgswagen cared about soccer in the US? They had some "cute" commercials during the World Cup. But only the first 10,000 times that I saw them. Then they became annoying by the 2nd week.
I get that we are now a global economy and that VW may provide a lot of jobs for Americans. I just would have really liked to have seen an "American" brand name on the jersey of our National Team.
Auto: Chevrolet, Ford, Chrysler (or any of their sub brands - GMC, Cadillac, Lincoln, Buick, etc).
Retail: Home Depot, Target, Wal-Mart
Technology: Google, Cisco, ATT, Microsoft, etc
Banking: Bank of America, Wells Fargo (I guess they are Mexico fans - boooo!!!)
Airlines: United, American, Southwest
OR what about a just a big giant NIKE symbol?
All of these make way more sense (to me) than Volkswagen.